CHIC Capital, formerly known as Hotel Capital Connection (HCC), is a focused, purpose-built, half-day summit offering deeper insight into hotel financing and capital strategy. The program delivers clarity, depth, and practical perspective for those directly involved in investment and financing decision-making.

Monday April 27th, 2026

Hilton Toronto

9:45am - 10:00am

Arrival & Registration

Location: Toronto Ballroom Foyer

10:00am - 10:15am

Opening Remarks  

Location: Toronto Ballroom

Stephanie Gadbois
Stephanie Gadbois
Executive Vice President
Big Picture Conferences

10:15am - 10:45am

Heads in Beds, Eyes on the Economy

Location: Toronto Ballroom

There has rarely been a time when the factors influencing hotel real estate financing and the broader Canadian economy have been more significant. Bank rates, employment levels and consumer spending all directly affect hotel performance and subsequent returns. What lies ahead for rates and occupancy across the country?

Dawn Desjardins
Dawn Desjardins
Chief Economist | Executive Advisor
Deloitte

10:45am - 11:30am

Who's Lending on Hotels? Please Hold While We Connect You.  

Location: Toronto Ballroom

Canada’s hotel financing landscape is undergoing rapid change as lenders, developers, and investors navigate an unsteady rate environment, valuation pressure, and shifting market fundamentals. Leading lenders and financing experts will break down what’s happening in real time: who is lending, on what terms, and for which hotel asset types. Panelists will explore current debt availability, refinancing challenges, underwriting expectations, and how regional performance is influencing access to capital across the country.

Moderator: 

Mo Darehshiri
Mo Darehshiri
CPA, CA, Chief Financial Officer
ATLIFIC Hotels

Speakers: 

Sanjay Arora
Sanjay Arora
Managing Director & Regional Vice President
BMO

Bill de Haan
Bill de Haan
Vice President, Real Estate Markets
RBC Royal Bank

Mark Kay
Mark Kay
President
CFO Capital

Edward Khediguian
Edward Khediguian
Vice-President, Hospitality Finance
National Bank of Canada

11:30am - 12:15pm

Plenary Session

Networking Lunch

Location: Toronto Ballroom Foyer

Sponsored by:

12:15pm - 1:00pm

Three Stakeholders Walk into a Hotel Lobby and the Investor Asks...

Location: Toronto Ballroom 

Equity in hotel deals has become increasingly complex as economic conditions shift, capital costs rise, and return expectations tighten. This session brings together a hotel owner, a brand/operator, and an institutional investor to explore how equity partnerships are evolving—and what each party truly needs to make a deal work in today’s environment. 

Through candid conversation, panelists will examine how stakeholders evaluate risk, structure partnerships, and create alignment around returns, fees, and long-term asset strategy. From initial underwriting to exit planning, the discussion will surface the real-world negotiation points that define modern hotel equity relationships—development risk, ramp-up curves, capital stack pressures, management flexibility, and brand standards.

Moderator: 

Mary Gagliardi
Mary Gagliardi
Managing Partner
REAP Capital Corp

Speakers: 

Ben Cary
Ben Cary
Vice President
PME Development

Matt Cornell
Matt Cornell
Senior Vice President – Asset Management and Investments
Barney River

Mark Kochhar
Mark Kochhar
Director Owner Relations, Canada
Hilton Hotels

Anto Vrdoljak
Anto Vrdoljak
Director, Franchise Sales & Development – Canada
IHG Hotels & Resorts

1:00pm - 1:45pm 

Plenary Session

Do Not Disturb... We're Transferring the Family Fortune  

Location: Toronto Ballroom 

Transferring family wealth is one of today’s most complex challenges for high-net-worth families. This session explores how to preserve, protect, and pass your hotel assets across generations while balancing financial, emotional, and governance needs. Experts will cover advanced estate-planning strategies, tax-efficient structures, and preparing heirs for responsible stewardship, with insights on how shifting demographics, rising valuations, and evolving regulations are reshaping the landscape.

Moderator: 

Paul Taylor
Paul Taylor
Partner
BLG

Speakers: 

Alnoor Gulamani
Alnoor Gulamani
President & Founder
Bayview Group

Sameer Gulamani
Sameer Gulamani
Managing Director and General Counsel
Bayview Group

Ray Gupta
Ray Gupta
Chairman, CEO, & Founder
Sunray Group

Sandeep Gupta
Sandeep Gupta
President
Sunray Group

1:45pm 

Closing Remarks

Location: Toronto Ballroom 

Stephanie Gadbois
Stephanie Gadbois
Executive Vice President
Big Picture Conferences